Alibi corroboration: an examination of laypersons’ expectations
Journal of Criminal Psychology
ISSN: 2009-3829
Article publication date: 6 June 2022
Issue publication date: 5 July 2022
Abstract
Purpose
The study aims to examine what laypersons expect those corroborating an alibi to remember about an interaction with an alibi provider.
Design/methodology/approach
Participants (N = 314) were presented with a mock crime scenario and answered questions about an alibi provider (i.e. the criminal suspect) and alibi corroborators. Participants also completed a lineup task based on the scenario and rated the likelihood of their own ability to corroborate the suspect’s alibi.
Findings
Overall, participants believed that it was moderately likely that an alibi corroborator with no prior relationship with the suspect would be able to vouch for the suspect, provide a description and to remember his general physical characteristics. Those who were inaccurate in their lineup decision demonstrated lower expectations of their own ability to corroborate the suspect’s alibi relative to those who were accurate in their decision.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first known study to assess what those judging an alibi expect when making a decision about the outcome of a case. Results demonstrate that laypeople have arguably unrealistic expectations of alibi corroborators, potentially jeopardizing innocent people’s ability to prove their innocence.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research was primarily supported by the Memorial University Undergraduate Career Experience Programme. The authors would like to thank all of those who participated in the project.Note: This paper was presented as a poster at the 2018 American Psychology Law Society Conference in Memphis Tennessee.
Citation
Warren, K., Snow, M. and Abbott, H. (2022), "Alibi corroboration: an examination of laypersons’ expectations", Journal of Criminal Psychology, Vol. 12 No. 3, pp. 33-45. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCP-07-2021-0030
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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